Crystal River current., 1887-04-16
ELEor,Mo SENATORS.

ELEoTlNo SENATORS.
Reasons why They should Be chossr
by Direct vots-Rsprsssnsssivs
Little's B1ll.
Representative Little, of Ohio, form
erly attorney general of that state.
being asked for his views on his pro-
posed amendment to the constitution
for the election Of senators by the peo-
pie. said:
s.There is. of course. nothing new in
the idea of choosing senators by popu-
lar election. 1t had able and distin-
guished advocacy in the convention
which framed the constitution. M.
Wilson. of Pennsylvania. urged the
popular election principle with great
force, and Gen. Hamilton supported 1t.
but in modified form. He proposed the
election of senators by the people. but
through electors chosen expressly TOT
the purpose. Mr.. Madison himself.
thouoh supporting the indirect election
was not decidedly adverse to the popu-
lar vote.
.He thought if the election by the.
people would be better security
against corruption it was matter to-
be considered.
"There was quite q number OF
schemes advocated for the selection Of
senators. Election by the house, BY
the president, by the states. by tie
people in districts, by electors specially
chosen-all had their advocates.
'.And venture to say that whoever
reads the debates in the light of our
history will fail to extract therefrom
sound and satisfactory reasons for the
selection made from these various
plans. The truth is, back in that time
the statesmen had certain distrust of
the people. They were still akin to
their English, Dutch. and French
ancestry. In the selection of their
rulers they wanted the refinement of
filtration, as some of them expressed
it. Another said the evils which beset
the confederacy come from the tribu-
lence. as everyone knew, of democracy
$50 the plan was finally agreed upon
that the executive, the judiciary. and
the senate should be chosen. not direct
ly by the people. but through agencies
a remove or two from them.
..Tke people soon took into their own
hands the election OF president and
while the cumbersome and dangerous
machinery of the electoral college re-
mains they virtually elect the president
as if voting by states directly for him.
Infidelity in an elector is q thing un-
known and scarcely thought of in our
history. Its occurrence would strain
the government most dangerously at its
weakest point. Why should not the
indirection as to senators be also aban-
doned? The most satisfactory results
have been realized when it has been
practically abandoned. The contest
before the people of Illinois between
Douglas and Lincoln is q case in point.
There the legislature only registered
what the people had decided. That
contest developed .and gave to the
country and the world Abraham Lin
coin.
1.-The last senatorial election in Ohio
is another case in point. Mr.. Sherman
was in effect as much voted for in the
election in 1885 for senator by the re-
publicans of the state as Mr.. Foraker
was for governor. So it was in Indi-
ana last year with respect to Gen. Har-
rison. Other instances might be cited.
Il do not hesitate to say that such
senatorial elections-that is, those
where the candidates are before the
people at the election of the leg stature.
which is to simply record their decree
are altogether more satisfactory in
results and in every other way.
1.-THE present method of election is
founded upon distrust of the people.
which our history shows to be unwar-
ranted. The argument that ii the prin-
ciple can not be trusted the agent can
not, has no answer in this case; but the
converse is not true.
There is a reason aside for this
change. OF course 1 refer to the power
and use of money. It. in notable in.
stances of our recent history. has de-
termined the election of senator's. I do
not care to elaborate on this. The sub
ject is in every mind. 1t is also in
everybody's knowledge how difficult.
not to say impossible. it is under the
present system to apply the corrective.
The popular election would bo lone
step in that direction. in my opinion.
''How does your amendment differ
from others on the subject?"
Il think it is more specific. Intends
it to be self-executing. give congress
the right to fix the terms of the firt
senators from new states in order that
the constitutional idea that one-third of
the senate being elected every two
years may be conformed to as nearly
as possible.
II have just thrown IN the amend
ment as SO much of q contribution to
the general subject. 1t may possibly
add something also to the general in
terest, which, as l have said, is widen
ling and increasing.
| '.It is scarcely probable that there
will be any report, or at any rate any
action. this congress. I trust there will
be favorable action at no distant time, !"
Cor. NeW York Herald.
All Little Fellows.
The wisdom of q man Is but q small